Results 10,601-10,620 of 32,593 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Consumer Protection (15 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: As part of his review of the regulation of Personal Contracts Plans (PCPs), Mr Michael Tutty considered the contents and recommendations of an earlier CCPC study on 'Personal Contract Plans: the Irish Market' and also a separate Central Bank of Ireland study 'An Overview of the Irish PCP Market'. Following his consideration of these reports and his other considerations, Mr Tutty produced his...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Contracts (15 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The bank concerned has not been awarded any contracts by the Department of Finance for the period 1 January 2016 to date. My Department also has 17 Bodies under the Aegis and none of these bodies have awarded State contracts to the detailed bank in the years of 2016 to date. However, the detailed bank is one of the financial institutions that, on foot of an open call, offers the Future...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (15 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I am aware that NatWest is engaged in a strategic review of its operations, including those of its subsidiary, Ulster Bank, thanks to media reports published last month. Following these report, officials from my Department contacted Ulster Bank and NatWest. Both Ulster Bank and NatWest highlighted that work on the review is ongoing and no decisions have yet been made. Furthermore,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Bank Codes of Conduct (15 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 132 together. I have no statutory role in relation decisions about bank branch closures. Banks in Ireland are independent commercial entities and it is a commercial decision for the management team and board of each institution as to where they locate their branches. Banks are required to notify the Central Bank immediately once a decision to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Regional Aid (15 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I can advise the Deputy that neither my Department nor any of the Bodies under the Aegis of my Department has granted regional aid under the regional aid guidelines in any of the past seven years.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The Stay and Spend scheme provides tax relief by means of a tax credit at the rate of 20% on qualifying expenditure of up to €625 per person, or €1,250 for a jointly assessed couple. The tax credit is worth a maximum of €125, or €250 for a jointly assessed couple. The purpose of the scheme is to provide targeted support to businesses within the hospitality sector...

Seanad: Budget 2021: Statements (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I am pleased to have the opportunity to appear before the Seanad today to contribute to the debate on budget 2021. As I informed the Dáil yesterday, this year's budget has been prepared in circumstances that are without precedent. The outbreak of the coronavirus has hugely impacted individuals, communities, societies and economies throughout the world, and our country is part of this....

Seanad: Budget 2021: Statements (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and thank Senators for their contributions. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, will be in the House for the afternoon to respond to other points Senators will raise in that debate. I am going to respond to a point made by each Senator and thank them all for their contributions. While I will deal with individual points, it...

Seanad: Budget 2021: Statements (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I will wrap up now.

Seanad: Budget 2021: Statements (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The three party leaders are focused on trying to make the right decisions for our country. Senator Chambers made the point about the increase in carbon tax and how we are looking to do that. We want to do it gradually with all of the gains from that change in carbon tax being used to deal with the issues to which she referred. On Senator McGahon's contribution, there was indeed a wide...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Schemes (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: Officials from my Department have considered the introduction of a car-scrappage scheme to promote the uptake of electric vehicles, and it is the Department’s view that a VRT based car scrappage scheme is unlikely to work well. The Department set out analysis on this proposal in the Climate Action and Taxes Tax Strategy Paper. This can be accessed at this link: . There are currently no...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Living City Initiative (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 118 together. I am advised by Revenue that the available information in respect of the Living City Initiative is the number of claimants (rather than number of properties) and the tax forgone. Year Amount Claimed €m Number of Claimants 2018 0.5 27 2017 0.4 ...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: The design of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) reflects the changing environment around the COVID-19 pandemic which has shifted from crisis mode to one of living alongside the virus, in line with the recently announced Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19. The Government’s focus has therefore shifted from an employee income support paid via...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised that, in general, you cannot open a standard current account until you are aged 18. However, each financial institution has different procedures for opening an account. Some providers require that a parent or guardian sign the account opening form if the applicant is under 16 years of age. Other providers only require parental permission if the applicant is under 13 years of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to advise the Deputy that there are no age restrictions for any of the Covid-19 related schemes that are under the remit of my Department. Subject to the other relevant qualifying criteria being met, there is no restriction on persons who are under 18 and over 65 in the application of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS), Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), or the loss...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Availability (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 123 together. In the answer to an earlier Parliamentary Question from the Deputy (Ref: 27576/20), Central Bank data on the number and value of outstanding Personal Contract Plan (PCP) agreements for car purchases was provided. However, the Central Bank has advised that this data is not available on a county by county basis. Regarding the regulation of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Coverage (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: At the outset, while I have an appreciation of the specific issue the Deputy raises, neither I, nor the Central Bank of Ireland, can direct the pricing of insurance products, as this is a commercial matter, nor can we compel any insurer operating in the Irish market to provide cover. This position is reinforced by the EU Single Market framework for insurance (the Solvency II Directive) which...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Exemptions (14 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: As I outlined yesterday in my Budget speech, I have increased the rate of carbon tax from €26 euro per tonne of Carbon Dioxide emission to €33.50 per tonne. This applied to auto fuels from midnight last night. I have delayed the increase on all other fuels, including green diesel, to 1st May 2021. As the Deputy will be aware, those who are eligible to purchase green...

Financial Resolutions 2020 - Budget Statement 2021 (13 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: When I presented budget 2020 we confronted the main challenge then facing our country, a hard Brexit. INTRODUCTION This year, while we continue to prepare for Brexit, we are also responding to the worst global pandemic in a century. We live in an era of great uncertainty and increasing risk. Overcoming these challenges in the interests of our fellow citizens is the central task of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Primary Medical Certificates (13 Oct 2020)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81, 82, 84 to 87, inclusive, 96, 97 and 111 together. The Disabled Drivers & Disabled Passengers Scheme provides relief from VRT and VAT on the purchase and use of an adapted car, as well as an exemption from motor tax and an annual fuel grant. The cost of the scheme in 2019, excluding motor tax, was €72m. The Scheme is open to severely...